Posted on 10/27/2005 11:44:40 PM PDT by SandRat
AR RAMADI, Iraq (March 28, 2005) -- Bellows from the 7-ton's diesel exhaust echoed off of brick buildings lining the narrow streets. Corporal James P. Kohler Jr. and his fellow squad members sit cramped in the big rig's bed singing halfhearted Marine Corps' cadences trying to relieve nervous tension as they traveled to their destination.
It was late; close to 10 p.m. They knew nothing good was out at that hour and that is why they're there.
The 21-year-old Grandterrace, Calif., native and the other Marines with 2nd Platoon, Company C, 1st Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, spent a night on the town to find out what was going "bump" in night.
The platoon conducted a combat patrol in a portion of the city here where Company B Marines manning an observation post reported seeing suspicious activity after curfew hours, which are between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m.
According to 2nd Platoon's commander, 2nd Lt. Austin P. Adams, reports indicated several groups of four to ten people were going in and out of a house located in a neighborhood between the Euphrates Canal and the city's main road late at night.
Their actions suggested they could be insurgents leaving an intelligence house going to execute attacks on U.S. forces, or they could just be innocent Iraqis gathering for a bible study, he said.
Kohler, third squad leader for 2nd Platoon, led his Marines through the dimly lit, narrow streets to get better "eyes on" and determine if the groups' intent was hostile.
"If they mean to do harm to (coalition forces), then we're going to stop them," the 2001 Colton High School graduate said.
While searching for higher ground to use as a lookout, Kohler and his Marines encountered a group of more than 20 Iraqi teenage boys and girls playing a late-night game of soccer beneath a streetlight. Several adults were standing outside their residences, too.
"There's a lot of people breaking curfew," Kohler said. "They seem harmless, though. They're not doing anything to harm Marines."
Kohler explained the Iraqis, while innocent in their actions, are still in the wrong for being out on the streets so late. Until coalition forces rid the city of insurgents and deem it safe, the curfew will be enforced. It's for the Iraqi civilian's safety, he added.
Third Squad located a two-story, abandoned building they used as a lookout.
Lance Cpl. Bradford L. Dunn, 3rd Squad's squad automatic gunner, breached the building's main door with a right kick and headed to the roof where the twenty-year-old Covington, Ky., native and his fellow Marines set up an over watch.
The location was ideal for monitoring the area where the groups had been meeting, according to Lance Cpl. Eric Aguilar, 3rd Squad's grenadier.
The house is empty and is higher than the others around it," said the 22-year-old from Ganado, Texas. "It has good concealment, too. If there're insurgents in the area, they probably don't know we're here. If they try shooting at the (observation post) over there, we'll see them and take them out."
Aguilar and the other Marines with 3rd Squad remained on the building's roof for more than an hour monitoring everything that happened while the other squads did the same from different buildings.
Nothing suspicious happened, and Adams gave the order to leave the area and head back to their base camp, Snake Pit.
Marines with 2nd Platoon made the two-mile trip on foot and accomplished their mission without incident.
"The mission went well," said Kohler, who plans on pursuing a higher education and becoming a history teacher when his enlistment ends in June. "We determined exactly what's going on out there. It's basically some kids and adults breaking curfew, but they don't mean any harm.
"The benefit from the patrol tonight is that squads going there in the future will know what to look out for."
Ramadi PING.
These guys are my neighbors.
BTTT
Thanks for watching out for these guys, Sarge! *HUGS!*
Come see what Sarge's neighbors are up to!
Thanks for guarding the neighbors.
Great story!
BTTT!!!!!!!
While searching for higher ground to use as a lookout, Kohler and his Marines encountered a group of more than 20 Iraqi teenage boys and girls playing a late-night game of soccer beneath a streetlight. Several adults were standing outside their residences, too.
"There's a lot of people breaking curfew," Kohler said. "They seem harmless, though. They're not doing anything to harm Marines."
Thanks for the ping!
Bump
Bump - Thanks for the ping.
Thank you for the ping.
Come home safe.
I would gladly trade my life for any one of yours. I mean that.
I did my time on the pointy end of the spear in various capacities. One of my uncles went from E-1 to O-6 in the MC. He was a veteran of Guadalcanal(Battlefield promotion from Sgt. to 2nd. Lt.), Saipan, and Chosin (Cpt.). I wish I could have gotten his story from him instead of from my Aunt after he died. My three uncles(2 Navy O-6, one MC O-6) received between them, three Navy Crosses (One each and one in leu of the Medal of Honor, Navy), four Silver Stars, seven Bronze Stars, Four Legion of Merit, and four Purple Hearts. I never learned any of this until after they were dead (plus). They never spoke of the WWII years. Even my dad never told me.
You are what the Romans would call "Primus Pilus," 'First Spear.' This was the term used to denote the lead Centurian in each legion. If I remember correctly, there were NEVER more than 32 at a time in the whole history of Rome.
Think of them as the Command Sgt. Majors of the MC and the Army combined. Not your average group of slakers. ;-)
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